I really enjoyed this book and the series. Stella, the heiress from Kentucky, is awaiting her wedding in three days. Friends and family are arriving at the dock in Southampton and there's an incident a man is trampled to death by a horse. The police find a paper on him that says about wedding Morrington Hall and assume the bridegroom is the target. There's mysterious people in town, an unsigned wedding gift, a stack of hidden letters, and photo album all come to light after another murder. It's a quick read and am looking forward to the next one ( )

Murder At Keyhaven Castle is the third book in the Stella and Lyndy series by Clara McKenna.

It’s September 1905, and Stella and Lyndy’s wedding is just days away. Preparations are moving along nicely, and guests are starting to arrive in Hampshire. Stella would rather stay home and take care of any last-minute wedding preparations. Still, her father orders her to accompany him to Southampton to welcome the Swenson’s, friends or the Kendrick family, and a fellow horse breeder. As Miranda and her father are waiting for the Swenson’s to disembark, Stella watches as a young man is run over by what appears to be a runaway wagon and will die from the injuries caused by being run over. Miranda will later learn that the young man had a newspaper article announcing the upcoming wedding. When Miranda arrives home, she is surprised that her uncle and his two young children have come for the wedding. It will soon become evident that there is a lot of hostility between her father and his father. Stella will suggest an outing to the nearby Keyhaven Castle, thereby hoping to keep everyone at ease. Everyone has gone off to explore different castle areas when a terrifying scream sets everyone on edge. She finds a dead body that will affect her life.

Stella and Lyndy will determine if the two deaths are related and how they might be. They soon find no shortage of suspects that will include a nearby racehorse owner, close friends of Lyndy, and even Stella’s uncle.
I really like this series. The author has done an excellent job of developing two characters from very different backgrounds into a couple on the verge of marrying. The story is well-written and plotted, and there were enough red herrings that I was kept guessing until the end as to who the killer was. The characters are all believable and well-developed.

I am eagerly awaiting the next book in this exciting series. ( )

** 4.5-Stars **

I came to absolutely adore Stella and Lyndy over the last two books. She’s the filthy rich American heiress and he’s the pockets-to-let English heir to an earl. I know you are thinking – so what - that is the theme of a lot of historical romances. True, but these two are really special and they both do a lot of growing and changing over the course of these three books. Of course, they also find dead bodies and solve murders while they are at it.

Only a couple of days left until the wedding and Lyndy and Stella are so excited. They can hardly wait to begin their new lives together. Stella’s father is still just as awful, overbearing, hateful, manipulative, demanding, and downright mean as ever, but he’ll be headed back to Kentucky once the wedding is over. Happy sighs will be heard by all.

Stella’s father demands she travel with him to Southampton to meet his friends from America who are coming in for the wedding. While waiting, they witness a horrendous accident that results in a man being trampled to death by horses. Definitely not a very auspicious welcome for her father’s friends.

To relieve some of the mounting tensions between family members, unwelcome guests, invited guests, and hosts, Stella plans an outing to nearby Keyhaven Castle. While the guests are exploring the castle another tragedy occurs. This one turns Stella’s world upside down.

Can Lyndy and Stella find the murderer? Are all of the murders related? After an attempt is made on Stella’s life, they know they have to solve the murder – and quickly – or they may never have their wedding.

This is a wonderfully well-written, well-plotted mystery that will keep you on the edge of your seat until the last page. There are lots of suspects and lots of motives – Stella and Lyndy just have to find the right one. I rated this book at 4.5 stars because I wanted to learn a bit more about Jedidiah Kendrick. Perhaps we’ll learn more in the next book, but this one just sort of left the fate of his two children unknown. I’m sure Stella and Lyndy would see them cared for, but we didn’t actually learn that. I just wanted a bit of closure there.

I highly recommend this book – and this series – and I hope you’ll love it as much as I did.

I voluntarily read and reviewed an Advanced Reader Copy of this book. All thoughts and opinions are my own. ( )

Murder at Keyhaven Castle by Clara McKenna is a English Historical Mystery Series at the turn of the Century. Mysteries, murders, and scandals until the end. I love the intricate plots, historical facts, animals and unusual characters in this series. Stella and Lyndy are exciting, clever and loving without being sappy. Every old and new character is well woven into each mystery. I can’t wait to read the conclusion but sorry when each book ends and I’m left wanting the next book.
I received a complimentary copy of this book. Opinions expressed in this review are completely my own. I appreciate the opportunity and thank the author and publisher for allowing me to read, enjoy and review this book. 5 Stars ( )